The calendar says its about three weeks early, but the weather pattern of freezing nights and sunny days is here now.  Its been warm all winter.  12” to 15” total of snow.  Average snowfall is around 60”.  Rivers barely froze.   Unusual and troubling.  We are very concerned about this maple syrup season.  And we are concerned about future seasons if this pattern starts to re-occur.   Because of the warm winter sap has been moving in the trees for much of the winter.  

Today was over cast and rainy with a few snow showers.  High temperature of 37.  But the previous week was sunny with freezing nights and days in the high 30s to low 40s.   That is certainty maple weather no matter what the calendar says.

So we started tapping on February 21.  This is among the earliest dates we have ever tapped.  We have to check the records but in past 20 years it has not been this early.   Neighboring producers tapped a few days ago.  We had to clear our schedule before coming but would have liked to tap last week.

The flight in from Washington, DC was uneventful.  But there was little snow on the ground.  Past years the snow covered ground looked pretty from the air plane.   Today it was just brown with a few patches of snow.  Our woods is petty much snow free.   It looks like the end of the season.

Got to the farmhouse by 2:15 PM.  By 3:15 had 50 buckets washed.  We washed all the spouts during the Christmas holiday so at least that was ready.  Out to the woods with the tractor and buckets to begin tapping.  By 5:15 PM we had 50 taps out.  The sap is moving.  This evening we washed about 125 more so we are ready for tomorrow.  

As with any agricultural activity, you have to have faith because we have no control over the critical factors that determine production.   So we will see what this season brings. 

In the coming days we will tell about the activities and plans of the off-season.